Click here for video tips on how to ace the PSAT's Writing section.
Despite its title, the PSAT's Writing portion doesn't actually require you to write anything at all. It's designed to see how well you understand grammar, word choice, organization and other writing skills. The test includes 39 multiple choice questions in three areas:
- Identifying Errors in Sentences (14 questions)
- Improving Sentences (20 questions)
- Improving Paragraphs (5 questions)
For each correct answer, you'll get one point. You'll lose 1/4 point for every wrong answer. There's no reward or penalty for not answering a question. You'll have 36 minutes to complete this section of the PSAT.
Identifying Errors in Sentences
Try these questions first, because they're shorter and will take less time than the other two groups. The questions are presented in order of difficulty. You'll be asked to pick which of the underlined words in each sentence is the source of the error... or to conclude that there is no error.
One of the keys to this is understanding that you don't have to know why a sentence is wrong -- you only have to determine that it is wrong, and if so, what the error is.
Read the sentence without looking at the answers, and decide for yourself whether it's wrong or right. Then pick the answer that is closest to what you guessed.
Improving Sentences
As with the previous section, these questions start easy and get more difficult... so try to answer them in order.
Each question is a sentence with an underlined area. You need to decide whether the underlined words are ok or how you would change them to make the sentence better.
When you work on this section, keep in mind that you are looking for the clearest, simplest way to express an idea. Therefore your choice for improvement will be a phrase that is less awkward than the underlined words.
Improving Paragraphs
This section will take the longest, so save it for last; and, just as you did in the other sections, work in order from start to finish. You'll be shown a paragraph with an underlined sentence or phrase. Once again, you will have to decide whether the underlined portion is good the way it is... or if one of the possible answers is a better choice.
For this one, remember that a paragraph is designed to express an idea, usually by presenting the topic in the first sentence and by using the remaining sentences to support the first. A good paragraph expresses a single idea and is clear and well-organized.
Here are some more important strategies to help you ace the PSAT writing test:
